Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2540, Robert English, New Jersey

SERVICE
NUMBER
New Jersey
English, Robert
S 2540
Carded
CONTENTS

Ohio
13.086.
13086.
Robert English
of Clermont in the State of Ohio who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Bracy of the Regt commanded by Col. Mansfield in the 2 d New Jersey Regt time for 8 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio at the rate of 24 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of May 1833 and sent to claimant Batavia Ohio
  Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833  $ 53.32    Semi-ann. allowance ending Sep 4 th 33  13 33     $ 66.65  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. B. Whiting Clerk, Book Vol. Page

State of Ohio. Clermont County ss.
On the fifth day of November in the year of our Lord 1832, personally appeared in open court before the Hon. Geo. P. Lawrence Pres't. Judge, and Sarah Wakeman, Robert Haines and John Mary Esq. associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Clermont County, now sitting Robert English a resident of Batavia Township in said County of Clermont aged seventy six years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed Jan. 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. He was born in Middlesex County in the State of New Jersey on the 26 th day of January 1756 as he has been informed by his mother and verily believes and verily believes. He has a record of his age made by himself in his own family bible from the statement in relation thereto made to him by his mother. He was bound an apprentice to a merchant in Burlington County in the State of New Jersey and while he was an apprentice he entered the service of the United States in said County of Burlington in the month of January and in the same year the British landed in Philadelphia. He was then called out as a militia man to perform a tour of duty for one month. The Company to which deponent belonged was commanded by Captain Joseph Brown. Col. Reeves commanded the Regiment to which deponent at this time belonged. The Company under the command of Captain Brown met at a little town called Copwicks in Burlington County and marched from there to Red Bank where they joined the Regiment under the command of the before named Col. Reeves. Deponent was informed and verily believes that at Red Bank at the time said Company arrived there. There was four or five thousand militia of New Jersey. While at Red Bank Captain Robert Dugly and Joseph Brown were ordered with their two Companies (deponent with them) down the Delaware river about twenty miles to guard the shore and prevent the British from being able to plunder the County of the cattle.

Staid out Scouting about two weeks and then the Company under the command of Captain Brown and Quigley returned to Hatter- field, and continued there in all respecting time the Company left home more than one month. Deponent remembers some of the men growled because they were kept out longer than their regular tour of service called for. The Company to which deponent belonged was discharged at Hatterfield and deponent returned to Crop-wicke. He had no written discharge. His apprenticeship expired about this time and he returned to his parents in Middlesex County in the State of New Jersey and joined Captain Porters Company After he returned home, and in he thinks about Harvest in the year after the battle at Monmouth deponent was again called out to perform a tour of duty under the command of Capt. Jonathan Courts. John Mount was Lieutenant, Ensign Baldwin was Ensign, Hadiah Hartour was 2 d Lieutenant, Col Scudder Commanded the regiment and Lieutenant Hunt was Major. The Company met at Hyles Town and marched from there to the Scott plain meeting house. Gen. Washington lay on the Lowland River there, the British lay at Elizabeth Town and Major Andre was here that same year. While they were encamped at this last named place part of the Company to which de- ponent belonged volunteered with volunteers from other Companies (deponent among others) and went down to the British lines at Elizabeth Town. Does not know who commanded this expedition. Ensign Baldwin was an deponent thinks the only officer from Capt. Courts Company that was along. In the evening they got within the British lines and their sentries fired upon them. This brought out a good many of the British and a skirmish ensued which lasted for about two hours. Captain or Col Nixon went into the town with six men and as they were coming out were fired on by the sentry and a man named by hat was killed. Returned back to their encampment at the Scott plain meeting house and remained there until their tour was out and then the Company was discharged and deponent went home. Had no written discharge.
Another tour deponent under the command of the above named officers went down to the town of Newark and staid there. While Newark was their place of rendezvous Captain Courts Company went along. to be sure for deponent

Atkins was called 2 d times. The British both landed between 1 st and 2 d times in order to drive off the cattle and Capt. Combs Company were ordered there  out to prevent them from coming on 2 d times. Returned the next day to Newark and still there until they were discharged. Had no written discharge. This expedition against Redbank was performed in the fall of the year - he remembers it because they got apples and peaches while they were out. Does not remember the year - nor any particular facts from which it may be ascertained. The British were in New York at the time.
Another troop detachment was called out under the command of Captain Combs and the same officers before mentioned as belonging to his company was performed he thinks in the fall of the following year after the last mentioned time - the company met at Elizabethtown their usual place of meeting and marched first to the coast, passing through a number of small villages on their route. They marched upon and down the coast, guarding the shore from the incursions of the British. This troop was performed in the fall of the year but the year is not remembered. His reason for remembering that it was in the fall is that one morning the landlord at whose house they had remained complained to Captain Combs that his men had drunk up a barrel of cider that stood in his duty. Captain Combs told he was not responsible for the acts before noon, five or six of the men were so drunk they could not work. Had no written discharge from this troop.
Another troop detachment was called out under the command of Capt. Captain Combs, and in the same company to go to the coast to guard it as stated above. Captain Paine Debroo and his company were along during this expedition. Combs Company marched from Elizabethtown and fell in with Debroo's Company on the route and then marched together to their place of destination. During this expedition and before they got to the coast, they had marched heavily all day and had not eaten anything that day. At night they stopped and while they were cooking and alarm came that the British were landing. The companies started immediately.

together with them their uncooled distress in their knapsacks and marched all night but did not meet with the British and kept moving from place to place along the coast until discharged. Had no written discharge.
Another tour of duty performed by deponent was under the command of the same Captain Coombs. for the purpose of guarding the coast from the incursions of the British. They left this town to Spotswood and from Spotswood marched down to South River bridge and came back again to Spotswood and remained there the rest of the tour. Does not remember the year nor the time of the year when this tour was performed. Had no written discharge.
Another tour of duty performed by deponent was under the command of Captain William Cowover. The unit Captain Coombs Company was ordered to meet at Brunswick and about twenty or twenty five men of his company met there, deponent was one of them. There was no officer of Captain Coombs Company there and the comman- ding officer there threw the men belonging to Coombs Com- pany into Captain Cowover's who belonged to the same regiment. This was performed in the winter season but the year is not remembered. It said at Brunswick a month and were discharged. Had no written discharge.
After these several companies, Captain Coombs with others and deponent with it were called on an alarm into Monmouth County to a place called the Forest tavern - like thinks the cause of the alarm was that the refugees were landing on the sea shore eastward from Hightstown and were about to plunder the County. Captain Coombs Company was to have joined Col. F. Worman's Regiment - part of that regiment came to the Forest tavern, but Col. F. Worman from some cause to the deponent unknown did not come. They were there a short time and were then dismissed.
The tours of duty above mentioned were called tours of a month, though they sometimes exceeded a month by two weeks, as the relief did not come. The regular tours

did not fall short of a month - but when they were called out on an alarm the men who turned out had credit for a months service. Deponent continued call his services at the first call of the New Jersey Militia and went out every time he was called on to the end of the war. He never missed a single occasion - nor was liable to - nor paid a fine. He knows that he performed other tours of service during the war of the revolution that he cannot now call to his remembrance. Remained in the same Middle sex County in New Jersey until thirty eight years since when he moved to Mason County Kentucky and then moved to Clermont County Ohio in which he has continued to reside ever since.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Robt. English
J. D. Morris Clerk 113

Rev War
2540 INVALID.
File No. 2540.
Robert English
Rev War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index:—Vol. A. , Page 114.
[Arrangement of 1870.]
✓

Deb English

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Robt. English which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? Yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? not necessary XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? the Court have Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 4, 5, 6, 7
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

The State of Ohio Clermont County ss I William Waters a justice of the peace within and for said County and State aforesaid - do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Ramath Bunting, Robert R. Dickey, Christopher Hartman and Mary Hartman and Ezekiel Hutchenson and that each and every one of them is a credible person and the Statement of each and every one of them is Entitled to credit - November 8 th 1832
William Waters J. Peace

Personally appeared before me William Waters a justice of the peace in and for the County of Clermont State of Ohio Mary Hartman a resident of the township of Williamstown County of Clermont State of Ohio Who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her said oath depose and say. That she has been acquainted with Robert English about sixty years. She became acquainted with him in the State of New Jersey, Middlesex County. Deponent was raised within about half a mile of said English. Was acquainted with him during the Revolutionary war. During the revolutionary war deponent has often heard of said English going out and returning home on and from tours of duty. Heard Captain Nixon and Combs talked of and believe he went under them. It was generally reported and believed in the neighborhood in which said English lived in New Jersey that the said English had been a soldier of the Revolution and deponent concurs in that opinion. Said English has always maintained a good character for veracity and deponent believes him to be as honest a man as any upon earth. and further deponent says not.
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 23 d day of August 1832
Mary H Hartman Mark.
William Waters J. Peace

Personally appeared before me William Waters a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Clermont State of Ohio, Ezekiel Hutchinson a resident of the Township of Williams River, County of Clermont State of Ohio, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following deposition - That he has been acquainted with Robert English (the present applicant) from about the commencement of the Revolutionary war down to the present time. He became acquainted with him in Middlesex County in the State of New Jersey. Said English lived about the two four or five of a mile from where deponent with his father lived. Deponent recollects our call when said English went out - he thinks but is not certain that it was about the middle of the Revolutionary war. He thinks said English went out under either Capt. Mixon or Court. Believes said English went out every time he was called on. If he has refused to go. deponent thinks he would remember. Deponent's father Robert Hutchinson generally went out with said English when they were called on. He was generally respected and believed in the neighborhood in New Jersey in which said English resided that he was a mili- tia man in the Revolutionary war - said English has always as far as deponent knows or has heard sustained a good character for truth and veracity. And further deponent says not.
Sworn & Subscribed      Ezekiel Hutchinson before me this 23 d day of August 1832
William Waters J. Peace

Personally appeared before me William Waters a justice of the Peace in and for the County of Clermont State of Ohio Ransom Bunting a resident of the township of William Hough County and State aforesaid who being first duly sworn according to law on his oath deposes and says That more than fifty years ago, in the County of Middlesex and also in the County of Middlesex State of New Jersey he was acquainted with Robert English the present Applicant for the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th - 1832 and has been acquainted with him ever since. In September in the year 1778 deponent enlisted in the 2 d New Jersey Regiment commanded by Col William Maxwell and Joseph Brant who was Capt of the company to which deponent belonged. Deponent's house was about five miles from where said English lived and when deponent was home as he sometimes was on furlough - he remembers to have heard that English had been out in the New Jersey Militia on a tour of duty. It was generally reported and believed in the Neighborhood where said English lived in New Jersey soon after the war that he had been out as a Militia man in the New Jersey Militia. Deponent concurs in that opinion - Said English has always sustained a fair character for veracity - and further deponent says not.
Ransom Bunting mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23 d day of August 1832
William Waters J. Peace

The State of Ohio ss personally appeared Clermont County ss before me William Hart man one of the Justices of the peace of William Sprague township in the County aforesaid Christopher Hartman who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that he is now in the eighty third year of his age and that he the said deponent was personally acquainted with Robert English the present applicant ever since the year 1771 and further saith that he the said de ponent was with the above named Robert English in the militia service in the revolutionary war with Great Britain on three particular tours of military duty at the following places to wit the first tour to Spring field 2 d to Red bank and the 3 rd to Spotsylvania all in the State of New Jersey under Captain Saun than Coombs list of officers not recalled and further this deponent saith not sworn to and subscribed. Christopher Hartman before me this Eleventh his mark day of August 1832
William Hartman J.P. I do certify that I have been personally acquainted with Chris topher Hartman the above named deponent thirty years during which time he has supported a fair character for truth and honesty. Robert R. Dickie Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and date above written William Hartman J.P.

State of Ohio Clermont County Court of Common Pleas November Term 1832.
Clermont County. to wit:
On this sixth day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court Robert English an applicant for the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named appli- cant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, they further certify that it appears to them from the testimony of credible witnesses that Ezekiel Hudson son who has signed and sworn to the accompanying affidavit before William Waters Esq is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit and that Ransom Bunting who has before the said Waters, sworn to an affidavit in relation to the said application is a credible person and that Mary Hartman who has sworn to the affidavit accompanying this application is a credible person and that Christopher Hartman who has sworn to the affidavit accompanying this application is a credible person and that the statement of each and every one of them is entitled to credit.
I Jonathan D Morrison Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Clermont County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Robert English for a pension. I do further certify that William Waters before whom the affidavits of Mary Hartman. Ransom Bunting and Ezekiel Hudson appear to have been taken

Robert English 1831.11.2
and who appear to have signed the accompanying Certificate of the Credibility of Ranoot Bunting Robert R Dickey, Christopher Hartman, Mary Hartman and Ezekiel Hudson. is an acting justice of the peace in and for said County of Clermont and that the signatures to the affidavit which purport to be his - and also the signature to said Certificate are each his genuine signatures. And that William Hartman before whom the affidavit of Christopher Hartman and Robert R Dickey appears to have been taken is an acting justice of the peace in and for said County of Clermont and that full faith and credit is due to his official acts as such In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court at Batavia the 12 th day of November 1832.
J. D. Morris Clerk Clermont Court House

State of Ohio. } Clermont County } p.
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the above named County Robert English who being duly sworn deposes and saith, that by reason of old age and the coulagar loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the exact length of his service or the precise period of the war in which he served but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades; and at the following periods of the war. For eight months I served as a private and for the balance of service I claim a pension. His my first tour of duty was mentioned in my declaration was performed about the middle of the year 1876. My reason for thinking so, is that a short time after the first tour of duty my term of enlistment expired. My next tour of duty mentioned in said declaration was performed I think in the year 1877. My next tour of duty I performed the other tour of duty mentioned in my declaration between the year 1877 and the close of the war but from old age and the loss of memory I cannot state the year in which I performed them. Some of them were performed about the middle and some about the close of the war. Ezekiel Hutchinson who is an affidavit accompanies my declaration is a Clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I was drafted as a militia man of New Jersey. At the skirmish mentioned in my declaration as having taken place at Elizabethton Col Washington came down with his light horse and was around in the neighborhood. He recollected the two regiments of men of New Jersey and the other of Pennsylvania enlisted. then The Pennsylvanians were commanded by Gilwayne.

The new Jersey Troops were of same regiment to which Remott Bunting whose affidavit is hereto annexed belonged. I was frequently marched by them while they were lying at a place called the Connecticut Farms that the British had burnt. I saw Genl. Putnam while he was at Propriack with several regiments under him Remott Bunting, Robert Dickey, and Ezekiel Hutchinson know him in his present Neighbourhood and can testify to my character for veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution.
Robt. Dingley
Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 8 th day of
April 1833. Alex. Blair. J. P.
State of Ohio
Clermont County ss
I Jonathan D. Morris Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the above named County certify that Alexander Blair is before whom the above affidavit appears to have been subscribed and sworn to at the time of the taking thereof and now is an active justice of the Peace in and for said County and that the signature to said affidavit which purports to be his, is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 8 th day of April A. D. 1833.
J. D. Morris Clerk